Section 1:  Duties of President

The President shall preside at all meetings and perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to that office.  He shall be ex-officio member of all committees, but shall not vote on any question except in case of a tie.  He shall appoint all committees and the following Standing Committees when he assumes office:

1. Program Committee: Three Council members

2. Nominating Committee: Four immediate past Presidents

3. Constitution Committee: Three Council members

Section 2:  Duties of Vice-President
In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside.

Section 3:  Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer
He shall attend and keep record of all regular meeting and all meetings of the Executive Council; issue an agenda at least once week prior to each Executive Council meeting; issue notices of all meetings; conduct the necessary correspondence of the Society and be the custodian of the seal, books, and records of the Society.  He shall carry out the decision of the Council.  He shall collect all monies due to the Society and pay all bills for the conduct of the Society's business.  He shall conduct all of the Society's business.  He shall prepare an annual report which shall show, in detail, the recipients and expenditures of the preceding year; the balance of money on hand, and the existence of any bills or debts outstanding.  The books kept by the Secretary-Treasurer for the Society shall be audited for the Annual Meeting.  He shall notify the Fellows of all new applications for membership approved by the Executive Council by mail on a list separate from the program of the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 4:  Duties of the Executive Council
It shall meet as often as the interests of the Society require.  The time and place of its meetings shall be determined by the President.  Special meetings may be called by the President, or by any three members of the Executive Council.  It shall conduct the affairs of the Society subject to the ratification and approval by a majority of the Fellows at a regular meeting.  It shall control the arrangements for meetings and select the papers to be read and the order of their presentation.  It shall have absolute power to accept or reject papers or discussions for publication.  It shall constitute a Board for the investigation of any charge preferred against any member involving the welfare of the Society.  It shall have the sole power to bring such matters before the Society in open meeting, and to recommend suspension or expulsion of any members, subject, however, to Section 10 of these By-Laws.  It shall act on applications of candidate, decide the eligibility of candidate for all of membership, and present those approved at the next Annual Meeting of Fellows.  At its meeting immediately preceding the Annual Meeting of the Society, the names of all Members and Affiliates are to be considered for advancements.  Five members shall constitute a Quorum.

Section 5:  Attendance of Meetings
Candidates for admission must have attended at least one meeting of the New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

Section 6:  Pledge American College of Surgeons
Applicants are bound by the pledge of the American College of Surgeons.

Section 7:  Dues
The annual dues shall be set by the council and payable January first. Dues may be remitted in special circumstances by action of the Executive Council.

Section 8:  Non-payment of Dues
Any Fellow, Members, Affiliate, or Corresponding Members who is in arrears for more than one year may be dropped from the roll.

Section 9:  Expulsion
Charges of unprofessional conduct preferred against a Member shall be subject to investigation by the Executive Council and may be brought before the Fellows of the Society.  The member directly concerned shall be notified at least ten days prior to action by the Executive Council as to the charge made and the time and place at which such investigation will be held, in order that he may be able to present and be heard if he so desires.  A two-third vote of all Fellows present shall be required for expulsion.

Section 10:  Attendance
Any Fellow, Member, or Affiliate who does not attend at least one meeting in any current year may be dropped from the roll of membership, unless he furnishes satisfactory reasons to the Executive Council.

Section 11:  Resignation
A resignation may be presented and accepted at any meeting of the Executive Council, provided the members resigning is in good standing, and there is no charge of unprofessional or unethical conduct under investigation at the time.

Section 12:  Quorum
Ten Fellows shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 13:  Military Service
The Executive Council shall have the power to continue, from year to year, inactive membership, without payment of dues, of any member in active military service.

Section 14:  Order of Business
Order of business for all meetings shall be as follows:

Section 15:  Rules of Order
The rules contained in "Roberts Rules of Order, Revised Edition" shall govern where they are not inconsistent, with the existing By-Laws.

Section 16:  Amendment of By-Laws
These may be suspended, amended, or repeated by a two-thirds vote of the Fellows at any meeting.

BY-LAWS

CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS

Article I

The Society shall be known as The New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Inc.

 

Article II

The object of this Society shall be the advancement of the study and treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anal canal.

 

Article III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:  Classes of Membership
The Society shall have five classes of membership which shall be as follows: Fellows, Members, Affiliates, Retirees, and Honorary Members

Section 2:  Senior Fellows
The classification of Senior Fellows has been discontinued, with the exception that those Fellows who have already been elected to Senior Fellowship will maintain that status.

Section 3:  Fellows

A. A members may be nominated for Fellowship by the Executive Council provided the following qualifications are met:

a. The Member has been a Member in good standing for at least three years

b. The Member's practice has been limited to colon and rectal surgery for at least three years immediately preceding elevation to Fellowship

c. The member is a diplomat of American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

B. A teacher of colon and rectal surgery in a medical school approved by the Liaison council on Medical Education, holding the rank of Professor or Clinical Professor may be elected to Fellowship provided the candidate has been nominated by the unanimous vote of Executive Council.

C.  A surgeon (1) whose major interest is the entire field of colon and rectal surgery, (2) who is doing highly creditable colon and rectal surgery, and (3) whose contributions to the advancement of this specialty have been outstanding, may be elected to Fellowship provided the candidate has been certified by the American Board of Surgery, or has equivalent qualifications as determined by the unanimous vote of the Executive Council, or has been elected for special recognition, and provided the nominations is by unanimous vote of the Executive Council.

D. The Executive Council may add other requirements which are deemed necessary or advisable in order to maintain a high degree of professional ability and ethics among the Fellows.  The Executive Council shall notify the Fellows of such additional requirements.

E. Fellows shall have the right to vote and may hold office in the Society. They may serve on standing or special committees, may appear on the scientific programs or may participate in discussions of scientific papers.

Section 4:  Members

A. Membership may be granted by the Executive Council to an Affiliate provided the following qualifications are met:

a. The Affiliate has evidenced special interests in colon and rectal surgery by demonstrating an increasing commitment and participation in the affairs of The New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

b. The Affiliate is known by his peers to have an excellent reputation for professional and ethical conduct.

c. The Affiliate applicant has been an Affiliate for two years or has been certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery or the American Board of Surgery

B. An initial applicant who is certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery may be granted Member Status by action of The Executive Council without having served as an Affiliate.

C. A physician engaged in practice in an allied specialty who has expressed a special interest in colon and rectal surgery may, by unanimous vote of the Executive Council, be granted Membership.

D. Members shall not have the right to vote or hold office in the Society, but they may be appointed to serve on standing of special committees, may appear on the annual scientific programs, of The Society, and may participate in discussions of scientific papers.

Section 5:  Affiliates

A. The Executive Council may grant Affiliate Membership to an applicant provided the following qualifications are met:

a. A properly executed official application has been filed with the Secretary

b. The applicant has been graduated from a medical school approved by the New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

c. The applicant is knows by his peers to have an excellent reputation for professional and ethical conduct

d. Affiliates shall not have the right to vote or hold office in the Society, but they may be appointed to serve on committees other than standing committees, may appear on the scientific programs, and may participate in discussions of scientific papers.

Section 6:  Retired

A. The Executive Council may designate as Retired any Fellow, Member, or Affiliate in good standing who, regardless of age, has retired from active practice and has indicated desire for Retiree status.

Section 7:  Honorary Members

A. Executive Council may, by unanimous vote, grant Honorary Membership to any physician who has contributed significantly to the advancement of colon and rectal surgery or who has gained distinction in some field allied to colon and rectal surgery.

Section 8:  Corresponding Members

A. Corresponding Members shall be those who fulfill all requirements for Fellow Membership or Member Membership, but whose offices are outside the metropolitan area.  Definition of the term "metropolitan area" shall be determined by the Executive Council.

 

Article IV - OFFICERS

The officers of this Society shall be: President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer.

 

Article V - EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Executive Council shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, the four most recent past Presidents, and four members-at-large elected for two year terms - two to be elected each year.

 

Article VI - ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS AND MEETING

Section 1

A. The nominations of all officers shall be presented by the Nominating Committee to the Executive Council for its approval at its meeting immediately preceding the Annual Meeting.

B. Election at the Annual Meeting shall be by closed ballot.  If there is more than one nomination for an office, the candidate having a majority of the total vote cast shall be declared elected.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting nominations from the floor.

C. Vacancies: Vacancies occurring between elections shall be filled by the Executive Council.

Section 2:  Term of Office

A. The Officers and Executive Council shall assume their duties immediately after their election and shall continue in office two years, or until their successors are duly elected.

B. The President shall serve not more than two terms successively.

C. A past President or an elected Council member who has completed his term in the Council shall be eligible for any office.

Section 3

A. The number of general meetings shall be determined by the Executive Council.

B. Special meetings may be called by the President or upon written request by ten (10) voting members.

 

Article VII

Amendment to this Constitution may be made provided that notice of such amendment shall have been circulated to the Fellowship in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Fellows at which the vote is to be taken.  A two-thirds vote is required to amend.